Arrive to Reykjavik this morning and transfer yourself to your hotel in the center of downtown Reykjavik. Drop your luggage at your hotel and set out to explore the city on your own this first day and rest up after your long travels. Check in and spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. You can opt to visit Blue Lagoon spa for a relaxing soak in the hot springs, or explore the city at your own pace.

This morning you transfer yourself back to the airport for your domestic flight on to Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. Here you are met by your guide and set out for your first destination, Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. Hike about an hour from the parking lot to the waterfall in your quest to spot this beauty, seeing the smaller Litlanesfoss along the way which is surrouned by high basalt columns.

After the hike enjoy a lunch buffet at the Skriðuklaustur manor house exhibit. This museum is located near the site of a 15th-century monastery. Continue on to the Wilderness Center, located near the northeast edge of the large Vatnajokull National Park wilderness area. Settle into your rooms that appear almost trapped in time. Take a short ride this afternoon to the abandoned farm of Kleif which offers beautiful surroundings and a glimpse into the old lifestyle. You can also opt to hand winch yourself across the Jökulsá River by traditional cableway. Travel on Icelandic horseback for this tour if you would really like to try your hand at it. These horses are world renowned for their five gaits. This evening your food is served in the cozy and authentic dining area at the Center. The kitchen operates as an open kitchen, so you have the chance to see how things are prepared and learn from the locals some secrets to Icelandic cuisine.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast this morning and take some time to tour the exhibits at the Wilderness Center that tell the stories of the past in the region. Here you can see both indoor and outdoor exhibits designed to give you insight into the history of life in this wilderness area. Today you set out to walk along the Jökulsá River for about six hours towards the Laugarfell Highland. The river has multiple waterfalls along the way, and is one of the country's few rivers with such a drastic vertical drop (600 m) in relatively little distance (30 km). Follow the marked trail passing waterfalls and walking through birchwood and canyons to the Laugarfell Highland Hostel. Once here, relax in the hot spring after your journey and settle in to spend the night with stories about the local lore.

Today you pack up and set out for a drive along the highlands to the huge canyons of Hafrahvammagljúfur, a dark and imposing canyon with stunning views. Take an easy sightseeing hike by the canyon and keep your eyes peeled for reindeer in the area. Bring your cameras and take photo stops at some of the most picturesque locations such as Sanddalur Valley with vivid colors and stone formations and the Eyjabakkar wetland area which is internationally protected and teeming with wildlife. Here you may be able to spot pink-footed geese, reindeer, and a diverse range of vegetation. The Vatnajökull ice cap and Mt. Snæfell also create a stunning backdrop for any photography here. 

This afternoon change gears for a more adventurous activity! Spend three and a half hours mountain biking down the mountain and observing amazing views over the rivers, cliffs, and grasslands here. Finish up by arriving back at the Wilderness Center and settling in for the evening.

Set out fairly early today for a fishing excursion to the Kelduá River located in a hidden peaceful valley. From here you can opt to go in search of the world-famous river 'monster' of Lagarfljót. Enjoy a pot of coffee and lunch at the lake and hear stories of the 'monster' as well as proposed scientific explanations for the peculiar sightings. 
After lunch drive to the popular Borgarfjörður Eystri, a beautiful fjord along the eastern coast. Hike in the Stórurð area near Mt Dyrfjöll on the way before arriving to the fjord in search of puffins to photograph. Spend the night this evening in a guesthouse in Borgarfjörður.

Set out north this morning and visit the black beach in Húsey. Here you have the chance to admire some breathtaking landscapes teeming with birdlife and seals. Enjoy lunch in Egilsstaðir before you head further north to the highland farm Sænautasel. This is an old turf farm which is still very much trapped in time and is very similar to the setting in one of Iceland's most famous novels. Enjoy dinner here followed with an evening of singing and entertainment before you receive special permission to spend the night in one of the old turf houses, sleeping dorm style as if you were sleeping here nearly 100 years ago.

The last day you head further north to Möðrudalur and admire its beauty with the view of Mt. Herðubreið and hear local tales about the hilarious artist Stórval. After lunch stop by an old mountain hut near the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River for more stories about the character of a classic novel Advent by Gunnar Gunnarsson. The protagonist, Mountain-Bensi, used to wander into the wild in all kind of weather looking for stray sheep. Next arrive to the the geothermal area by Lake Mývatn, whose mountain scenery is unique and stunning, as most of it was formed by sub-glacial eruptions. Take a dip in the popular Nature Baths hot springs to relax before your journey this evening. Continue on with a brief stop to see Goðafoss Waterfall, one of the most spectacular in Iceland. You finally arrive to Akureyri around 6 pm tonight in time for your red-eye flight home.